Brad Cummings | An 'establishment' Republican wrong about Rand

Oct. 1, 2013

Sen. Rand Paul

Written by

Brad Cummings

I happened to catch a segment on Sean Hannity’s show last week with Kentucky’s junior Sen. Rand Paul. Just after Sen. Ted Cruz’s 21-hour “filibuster,” Hannity was trying to goad our senator into piling on with the divisive attitude coming from many conservatives toward Republican senators who would not join in on the Texas senator’s fight to defund Obamacare. But Sen. Paul wouldn’t take the bait. Instead, he encouraged conservatives to not create a divide with those who only disagree on tactic, not policy. He argued that no Republican is for the funding of Obamacare and to sever allies based on tactic was counterproductive.

I couldn’t agree more. This is the type of unifying voice that needs to be heard in this day of political dysfunction. It showed Sen. Paul can be a major force for positive change among Republicans. And this breath of fresh air was my final turning point on Kentucky’s newest U.S. senator. I was wrong about Rand.

Back in 2009, Trey Grayson, a dear friend and one of the most honorable men I have ever known, was considered a relative shoo-in to take over for Sen. Jim Bunning as Kentucky’s next senator. I was enthusiastic about his campaign and the long term prospects for his time in D.C.

My connection to Trey is more personal than most. He gave me my biggest break, choosing me to serve as his political director for his 2007 reelection campaign for Kentucky secretary of state. Trey won reelection and our success was the biggest factor in my becoming Jefferson County’s youngest Republican chairman. Without Trey Grayson, I simply wouldn’t be where I am today. And with his inexhaustible drive to spend time with every Republican (and Kentuckian) in the state, he won the loyalties of many longtime activists and politicos.

However, 2010 was a change election year and thousands of new people were engaged in the political process that had never been involved before. As chairman in mid-2008, I saw the tea party coming well before Sen. Barack Obama was elected president. Every week, I would field phone calls from Republicans angry at President George W. Bush for driving up debts and putting our country in an economic tailspin. (Sorry to burst the bubble of those who thought the tea party was formed because an African-American man became president.)

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Rand Paul became Kentucky’s answer to this fervor formed from the frustration of conservatives against “the establishment.” This historic moment in political history took Grayson as an unfortunate casualty. Dr. Paul won the primary handily and defeated Attorney General Jack Conway to become our newest U.S. senator.

Some of Sen. Paul’s views were hard to swallow for this “establishment” Republican. For instance, I found his stance allowing private business to discriminate along racial lines unsettling. It made me fear his belief system was untested. I’ve always been an advocate for minority rights and this myopic approach felt tone deaf to say the least. I felt legitimately concerned Sen. Paul wasn’t part of the solution to help the divide created between minorities and the GOP.

But I’ve been proven wrong. Sen. Paul has shown through both words and action his desire to improve the lives of minorities in Kentucky.

He correctly identifies mandatory minimum sentencing against drug offenders that disproportionately effect African-American men as one of the biggest factors in limiting the black vote. He knows the war on drugs is the single most destructive government policy that we have as it pertains to all minorities — targeting them overwhelmingly for suspicion, prosecution and incarceration. He reached out in a non-election year to the traditionally black Howard University and gave a speech on the advantages of conservative policy for the black community. He’s spent many hours in minority communities in Kentucky without a staged campaign, but instead as a powerful observer hoping to find ways to meet the needs of these underserved populations.

Beyond his concern of minorities, Sen. Paul’s views on drugs and drug penalties, especially cannabis, are refreshing for those of us who wonder why something less harmful than alcohol could land someone in jail and potentially ruin their chances for a productive life. His support for Commissioner of Agriculture Jamie Comer’s move to legalize hemp in Kentucky was courageous, direct and, most importantly, the correct stance to take for Kentucky’s farmers. The opposition to hemp is even less educated than the war against marijuana.

And Sen. Paul’s influence on the Republican Party has allowed many of us to look at the last decade of war with a more discerning eye. Without his presence, many like myself may have been caught up in the desire to attack Syria, instead of understanding voluntary military action does more to harm our international cause than help it.

I’ve been wrong about Rand. Like many others in Kentucky’s GOP who have come to the same conclusion, I look forward to making up for lost time.

Brad Cummings is COO of PM Advertising, and he previously served as Jefferson County Republican Party chairman. His column appears every third Wednesday. He can be reached at bradford.cummings@gmail.com